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Department of Defence

Air Raid Precautions

The Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS )

Under the Air Raid Precautions Act, 1939, each Air Raid Precaution Scheme -making local authority is required to establish an Auxiliary Fire Service in its area to supplement the regular peace-time fire-fighting service in an event of attact from the air. The local authority is responsible for the organisation of the Auxiliary Fire Service in accordance with instructions issued from time to time by the Department of Defence. The approved strenght for the Service in each area is set out in Appendices 1 and 2 AFS Establishments, 1943. Fire pumps and other equipment are supplied on loan to local authorities by the Department of Defence. The number of appliances allotted to each area is governed by the population of the area, its size and degree of fire risk. Control and direction of the Auxiliary Fire Service should be the responsibilty of the officer in charge of the permanent fire service.

Appliances

The types of appliances used are: (1) Light Trailer. 120 - 180 g.p.m. Requires one and a half gallons of petrol per hour, approximately. Has towing attachments and is towed on long journeys by a car, preferably 15hp or over and if required can be towed by crew. It can also be carried by two men over obstructions.(2) Large Trailer. 350 - 500 gmp Requires 3 gallons of petrol per hour, approximately. Has a towing attachment and is similar to the light trailer.(3) Heavy Duty Self-propelled. 700 - 900 g.p.m. requires 4 gallons of petrol per hour for the pump and it does 15 miles on the road to the gallon.(4) Heavy Unit on skid mountings. for use on barges, Has a similar pump to the Heavy Duty self propelled unit.

National ARP Competitions, Griffith Barracks Dublin, September 1944.

National ARP Competitions, Griffith Barracks Dublin, September 1944.
Minister presents AFS shield to Limerick City Team